Water-controlling mechanism for laundry-tubs



T.BIRKEN|VIA[ER.

WATER CONTROLLING MECHANISIVI FOR LAUNDRY TUBS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC14 I9I6.

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T. BIRKENIVIAIER.

WATER CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LAUNDRY TUBS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC,4. 1916.

Patented .111116,29, 1920.

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water to flow quietly in saidconnectionlwithf- THEQDORETBIBKENMAIELEQF s'r. Louis,V russo-UBI.

warnnfcoNrnoLLrNs ivrnorniiirsivr ron LAUNDRY-Truss.

Specification of Letters Patent. v

Paten-ted June 29, 1920.

Application died December 4. 191e. serial No. 135,002,v

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that'I, THEoDoRE BIRKEN-v MAIER, a citizen of the United States, and residing` at St. Louis, in the State' of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Water-Controlling Mechanism for Laundry-Tubs, of' which the following is a specification.

This invention'relatesto fiuid controlling mechanisms, being directed more particularly to mechanisms of this class for controlling the supply of water to laundry tubs and which embody a iioat arranged to'cause the supply valves'` to be automatically closed when theA water has reached adet'ermined level in the tub.

It has been found that in the operation of such mechanisms as heretofore constructed and arranged, there is grave liability of lint and other insoluble substances which may, during the clothes washing( operation, become liberated in the tub, inding their way from the latter to the float'chamber and clogging the float to an extent sufli'cient to seriously impair, or" even wholly destroy its action. i Y

It has also beenfound that inthe operation of such mechanisms there is grave liability of a false levelbeing created in the float casing or chamber resulting from undue agitation or churning of the inowingwater within the inlet connection kbetween the source of supply and the tub. v

This invention has among its objects, therefore, to obviate, in acmechanism of the type above mentioned, liability of the action of the float being impaired as a resultof becoming clogged.

A further object ofthe invention is tok lower the pressurel of the'inflow'ing water in the inlet connection, thus yto avoid objectionable agitation or churning and causelthe out creating a false level in the lioatchamber.

With the above and other-'.objectsin view, the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompany-ing drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation part-ly in section of a mechanisml embodying theinvention' Y i v Figs. 2 andy 2*" are detaily viewsof the check valve; l

Figs. 3 and 4 'are views similar to Fig. 1, showing slightlyjmodiied embodiments of the invention; i

Fig. 5 is a detail'in section of parts shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a laundry tub equipped with legs 2 and containing a rotary clothes receiving drum 3, these parts, which are conventionally shown for purposes of illustration, being of the usual or any preferred form, construction and material. A'

The tub 1 is provided with a water inlet connection which, in accordance with this invention, includes` a relatively. large pipe section 4, sustained by a supporting vpedestal 5, and having a lateralbranch 6 extending into the tub, the inner discharge end of this branch pipe being normally closed by means of a fiap valve 7 hung in a suitablebearing collar 8. The outer surface of this valve is, for a purpose which willrnore fullyhereinafter appear, beveled transversely at opposite sides of a medial line 9 to presentv oppositely inclined faces 10'as seen more clearly in Figs. 2 and 2". The section 4 which constitutes an equalizing chamber and contains a floating ball 11, stands vertically, as shown, and is provided at a point belowthe juncture of the branch pipe 6 with an internal baille 12 of a form and arrangement to produce a restricted bypass 13, while threaded onto the upper end of the section 4 is a removable cap14 provided with perforations 15. A pipe section 16, forming in effect a continuation of the pipe section 4, has one end coupled to the cap 14 and its otherendcoupled toa con-- nection 17 formingv the common outlet to a pair of valve casings 18 (containing suitable cut olf valves, not shown) and to lwhich casings, respectively, hot and from a suitable source of supply. -T

The water when turnedon at the source of supply 178, flows through the inlet connection, comprising parts V16, 4 and 6, to the tub 1 and the apparatus includes mechanism for automatically cutting off the the water reaches thedesired predetermined level in the tub. This controlling mechanism which maybe of any suitableconstruction but for purposes of illustration, is shown as'bein like that disclosed in an application Ser. o. 97,734, filed by me May`15, 1916, will`- now be briefly described, the parts c old water is led 'supply when of the said mechanism being referredto herein by the same reference characters, as are employed to designate likeparts in the said4 application, to which reference may be had for a more complete` description of the mechanism in question.

Supported by a pedestal45, at a point suitably adjacent to the equalizing chamber 4, is a vertical casing 46 equipped at its upper end with a cap 48 and connected at its lower end with the lsaid stand pipe by means of a pipe 19 which enters the pipe 4 at a point beneath the baille 12. The casing 46 contains a movable carrier frame 49 provided with a central vertical guide rod 5() carrying a vertically slidable sleeve 51 provided atits lower end witha shoulder 52' and at its upper end with a head 58, a weight 530, having an annular shoulder 54, being slidably arranged on said sleeve. The shoulder 54 is adapted for engagement bv a latch 55 pivotally 'hung inaV bearing 57 andk provided with a tail 58 projecting within.

the path of movementof a tripping rod 59 sustained and guidedkin bearings 60 and 1connected at its lower` end with a float 61 movable on the rod 50 and arrested by the rlower. end of the frame 49.

The `casings 18 contain, as before stated, suitable cut Off valves, which are equipped with handles 25 adapted for manipulation to manually operate said valves, aswill be readily understood, and each of these handles carries a toothed segment 27 pivoted at one end to the handle and connected at its other end by a link 28 with'a spring pressed `inger'lever31 also pivoted on the handle.Y f The segments are engaged each by one of a pair of pivoted, spring pressed latches 38adapted to cooperate "with the segments for holding the valves in open, ,partly open or closed position, the latches being movable, to release the segments, throughthe action of a plunger which rests onY the weighted end 39 of a lever 40.

The head 48 is provided with abrackct on which ismounted a casing 66 containing a pair of sheaves (not shown). One of said sheaves isconnected with the carrier frame 49, by means of a cord passing over suitable guide pulleys, while the other of said sheaves is connected with the sleeve 51 by means of a cord 77 passing over a guide pulleym78, journaled `on the lever 40, and over a'second guide pulley 79 journalcd in a suitable bearing on the head 48. The slieaveswithin the casing 66 are mounted for relatively independent movement on a shaft 68 and that sheave which is connected by cord 77 with the sleeve 51 is provided and fixed for'movement with, a head 85 disposed outside the casing.

The construction and arrangement of th foregoing mechanism is such that by pressing the grip pieces 31' in order to throw the segments out of engagement with latcnes.v A38, thev handles 25 may be manually oper-V 4weight 530 whichv drops' until arrested by the shoulder 52 at the-lower end of sleeve 51. The weight, in falling, gathersconsiderable momentum and, therefore, the inertia resulting from the fa'llingweight being suddenly arrested. `exerts a downward pull onV `the cord 77 which operatesl to pull the lefthand end of the lever .40downward and cause the end 89 of the lever to actuate the plunger 37r which, in turn, actuates the latches 83 in a manner to lrelease the segments 27 andl permit thevalves to close automatically under pressureof the inflowing water, as will be readily understood and as appears more fully in the prior application referred to abov Y Y v K In the operation of the present apparatus the incoming water flows from the source of supply 18 to the tub 1 through the inlet connection` 16, 4 and 6, it beingynoted that in passing from the part 16 into` the part 4 of said connection, the pressure of the water will beV lowered .while the floating element 11 will'sustain the impact of the' water for preventing a churning action. Thus the incoming water is caused to'iow slowly and vquietlythrough the equalizing chamber 4 to inflowing Vwater willautomatically lift the i valve 7, which'will, of course, when the flow is cut Y ofi', be automatically closed under head of the water ln the tub and, because of the valve having the inclined faces 10, the

force of the water, in closing the valve and during the clothesI washing operation will act to hold the-latter properly and securely to its seat in closed position.

vIt will-be noted that the bottom of the Veolualizing lchamber' is below the bottoms of the tub and of thefloat chamber. f As the water, therefore, flows into the equalizing chamber from the part 16,k it will gradually rise in this eq'ualizingv chamber, and, in doing so, iow from one connection 6 to the tub, as heretofore described, and from the other connection 19 tothe float chamber, it

beingunderstood that, since the equalizing Y vchamber is of large diameter, that is, larger than the connection part 16, the water will` rise and be maintained at the same vlevels in the tub and in the Viioat chamber. 'The y This form is designed formaking a connecthreaded,

water, in rising in the float chamber, will actuate ,the float 16 and close the valves, as describedabove. Y

It isapparent that lint or other insoluble particles which may be released in the tub 1 during the kwashing operation, will ordinarily be prevented from escaping there from, into the inlet connection, Vby means of the valve 7. Should such particles, however, find their way past the valve, they will rise to the vsurface of the water in the equalizing chamber 4 and will, of course, beV again returned to the tub with the neXt incoming i'low of water. Should the force of the inflowing water prove so great as to render theelement 11 ineffectual for preventing objectionable agitation of the water within the equalizing chamber, this contingency .will be taken care of. by the baiie 12 which doubly insures a quiet flow' of water to the float chamber through connection 19, and which baille performs the additional function of obstructing the passage of insoluble particles vfrom the .tub into the bottom portion of the equalizing chamber and, therefore, into the float chamber. The connection 6 is of larger diameter than Vthat of connection 16, whereby a freeand unrestricted flow of the water, from the supply source 18 to the tub, is insured. The perforations 15 admit air to the upper end of section 4 and serve to prevent the possible creation of Va `vacuum and a consequent irregular level of water in the inlet connection, it being understood that the float chamber is similarly vented.

ln Fig. 3 there is shown a slightly differ ent embodiment of the invention in which there is fitted in the wall of the tub 1 an outwardly projecting thimble 2O adapted to'receive the end of branch pipe' 6, this thimble, into which Vthe end of pipe 6 is Y being of suiicient size to accommodate, and permit free opening and closing movements of,` the valve 7, which is hung on the end of pipe 6 within the thimble.

tion with tubs in instances where the space between the wall of the tub and the end of the drum is insuiiicient 'to accommodate the end of pipe 6 and the valve 7, where arranged as in Fig. 1.

In Figs. 4 and 5 there is shown still another embodiment of the invention, wherein the pipe 6 enters at the bottom ofthe tub 1 and connects at its inner end with an equalizing chamber 21 arranged beneath the drum 3. This chamber which has its upper surface finely perforated to form a strainer 22, is provided nal baffle 23 apertured near the lower wall of the part 21 to form a by-pass 24 affording communication between the part 21 and pipe 19 which connects the adjacent end of the said part with the chamber 46.

near one end with anv interthrough the strainer 22 which prevents insoluble'particles finding their way from the tub into the equalizing chamber and therefore into the float chamber 46, as will be readily understood. Particular mention is made of the fact that in this latter embodi-r ment of the invention the combined area of the perforations 22 is greater than that of the connection 6, thus insuring an unrestricted flow of the water through the connection and that, because of by-pass -24 being "disposed at the lower edge ofthe baiile 23, insoluble particles which may @possibly find their way into the equalizing chamber 21, will float above said by-pass and therefore be prevented from escaping through the connection 19 into the floatr chamber.

From' the foregoing it is apparent that there is provided an apparatus of comparatively simplified form by which the stated objects of `the invention are effectually accomplished. It is to be understood, however, that in attaining these ends, various minor changes in theV structural details herein set forth may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus is claimed is: .f

1. In an apparatus of the type described, a tub, a water supply connected therewith, mechanism controlled by the level of the water in the tub for automatically cutting off said 'supply at a predetermined level, and a water connection from said tub to said mechanism having means insoluble ioating particles, liberated in the tub, and prevent the same from clogging ksaid mechanism.

2. In an apparatus ofl thetype described, a tub, a water supply connected therewith, mechanism including a float chamber and a iioat therein, controlled by the level of the water in the tub for automatically cutting off said supply at a predetermined level, and a water connection from said tub to said chamber, having means adapted to divert insoluble floating particles, liberated in the tub,v and prevent the 4same from finding their way into the float chamber.

3. In an apparatus of the type described, a tub having a float chamber in communication therewith, a water supply connected with the tub, a float arranged in said chamber, means controlled by a movement of the float foi` automatically cutting olf the water at ,a predetermined level, anda water connection from said tub to said chamber,

ioo Y adapted to divert having means adapted to divert insoluble floating particles, liberated in-the tub and prevent the same frompassing into said oat chamber.

4. In an apparatus of the type described, a tub, a water supply lconnected therewith, mechanism for automatically cutting @if said supply at a predetermined level in said tub, and a trap constructed and arranged to catch insoluble floating particles liberated in said tub, and prevent the same from clogging said mechanism.

5. In an apparatus of the type described, a tub, a source of Vwater supply, an inlet connection between said supply source and tub, a Vfloat casing having communication through said inlet connection with said tub, a' ioat arranged in said casing and means controlled byV a movement of the float for yautommically cutting oil the water at a predetermined level `in the tub, said inlet connection and float casing being constructed Aand arranged to divert from said casing, in-

soluble particles liberated in the tub.

6. In an apparatus of the type described, a tub, a source of water supply, an inlet connection between said supply source and tub, including an interposed relatively large equalizing chamber, constructed and ar- .ranged .to reduce the pressure of the water between the source of supply and the tub, mechanism for cutting off the water supply, and a water connection from said chamber to said mechanism, constructed to control the operation of said mechanism in acf cordance with the water level in said tub.

7. In an apparatus of the type described, a tub, a source of water supply, an inlet connection between said supply source'and tub, constructed and arranged to reduce the pres sure of the 'water between the sourceof supply and the tub, mechanism for cutting o'tf the water supply, and a water connection from said inlet connection to said mechanism, constructed to control the operation of said mechanism in accordance with the water level in said tub. Y

8.' In an apparatus of the type described,

a tub, a source of water supply, an inlet connection between said supply source and 5 tub, comprising a relatively large equalizing chamber constructed and arranged to reduce the pressure of Vwater between the source yot supply and tub, mechanism for cutting off the water Vsupplyand means op- 5 erating with said equalizing chamber to prevent churning or" the water.

9. In an apparatus of the type described, a tub, a source of water supply, aninlet connection between said supply source and 6 tub, comprising anY equalizing chamber enlarged with respect to said source, 'a float casing connected with said chamber and having communication therethrough with the tub, constructed and arranged .to divert 6 from said casing insoluble particles liberated in the tub, a float in said casing,rand means 4controlled by a movement of the ioat Ylor automatically cutting-off the water ata predetermined level in the tub. 7 l0. In an apparatus of the type described,

a tub, a source of water supply, an inlet connection between said supply source and tub,

comprising'an enlarged equalizing chamber,

a float casing connected with said chamber 7 and Y having communication therethrough with the tub, a iioat in said casing, means controlled by the movement of the float for Vautomatically cutting olf the water at a predetermined level in the tub', and a baille in v8 said equalizing chamber arranged between`- the outlets therefrom to thejtub and float casing. i

l1. In an apparatus of the type described, u a tub, a source of water supply,`mechanism 8 for automatically cutting of said supply, an inlet connection between said supply source and said tub, constructed and arranged to reduce the pressure of lwater be# tween the source of supply and the tub, and 9 adapted to act as a trap to catch insoluble, floating particlesliberated in said tub and vprevent the same from clogging Isaid mechamsm.

Intestimony whereof I'afiiX my signature 9 this 13 day of June, 1916.

THEoDoRE BIRKENMAIER. 

